WINDOWS Magazine Winter 2017 | Page 8

EDITORIAL | COMPLIANCE THE CONTINUING FIGHT FOR PRODUCT CONFORMITY AND COMPLIANCE T he Australian building and construction industry accounts for approximately 10 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product and employs nearly 10 per cent of Australia’s workforce. TRACEY GRAMLICK Executive Director & CEO Australian Window Association Under the Australian Constitution, governance of the built environment is the responsibility of state and territory governments. However, the Federal Government works collaboratively with the state and territory governments to facilitate the development of a more efficient and internationally competitive industry through reforms to regulation nationally. The Australian Government has a department that takes the lead on a broad range of policy priorities, which includes support to the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF); representing the Commonwealth on the Australian Building Code Board (ABCB), including the Building Codes Committee (BCC); progressing the agenda of a nationally consistent and cost effective approach to building and construction regulations through the adoption of the National Construction Code (NCC) and contributing to a national strategy for addressing non-conforming building products. The BMF is a body of Commonwealth, state and territory ministers responsible for building policy and regulation. The Hon. Craig Laundy MP, Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation